Grinding ring having grinding segments

ABSTRACT

A grinding ring having grinding covers for grinding profiled strips or profiled edges. The grinding ring includes a row of carrier segments, each carrier segment having grinding segments thereon. The grinding segments are connected with one another to form a one-piece grinding ring.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This non-provisional application claims priority to and benefit ofProvisional Application No. 60/702,618, filed Jul. 27, 2005, whichdisclosure is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a grinding ring having grindingsegments which are equipped with grinding covers or working surfaces.The grinding segments can be placed in an inverted position on a row ofcarrier segments of a rotatingly drivable segmental grinding wheel whichextends in the circumferential direction. The grinding segments areconfigured to be used for the grinding of profiled strips or profilededges made of wood or of a woody material.

The grinding segments are made of a plastic material. The grindingcovers are normally made of a woven fabric and form the working surfaceof the grinding segments. The shapes of the grinding segments depend onthe cross-sections of the profiles to be ground. The machining of theprofiles may be considered as a surface refinement because only thequality of the surface is to be improved. In order to achieve thiseffect, the segmental grinding wheels are driven at relatively lowrotational speeds, for example, between 500 and 2,000 rpm. The grindingsegments are wearing parts of the segmental grinding wheels, so that thegrinding cover or working surface will be worn off after a certainoperating time, requiring an exchange of all grinding segments of asegmental grinding wheel.

The segmental grinding wheel may be designed as an individual segmentalgrinding wheel with one row of carrier segments extending in thecircumferential direction or as a double segmental grinding wheel withtwo rows of carrier segments extending in the circumferential direction.If a double segmental grinding wheel is involved, the carrier segmentsare arranged such that they are mutually staggered so that the carriersegments of the first row engage in the gaps of the carrier segments ofthe second row. As a result, the working width of a double segmentgrinding wheel can also be changed.

In the case of the previously known segmental grinding wheels, thegrinding segments of each carrier segment row should be considered as anindividual component part. After being placed on the carrier segments inan inverted position, they then have to be secured on both sides in asuitable manner. Those grinding segments have been very successful inpractice. However, since they are required in large piece numbers in thepertinent industry, it should be possible to produce them in the mostcost-effective manner and with high precision. Furthermore, it is adisadvantage of those grinding segments that they can be used only in adefined position relative to the axis of rotation of the segmentalgrinding wheel.

The carrier segments, according to the present disclosure, include basicprofile segments adapted to the cross-sections of the profiles to beground. The basic profile segments are made of an elastic material, suchas microcellular rubber and a metallic base, onto which the basicprofile segments are placed. The carrier segments are fastened to afoundation.

The present disclosure relates to grinding segments that can be producedin a simple and economic manner. Furthermore, a precision can beachieved that is as high as possible. Since the grinding segments arerequired in high piece numbers, the transport costs can also be reduced.

The grinding segments, which can be placed in an inverted position on arow of carrier segments, are connected with one another and form aone-piece grinding ring. The individual grinding segments are foldablealong defined weakening lines.

By use of a suitable tool, the grinding segments forming a grinding ringare simultaneously produced in one working cycle. The grinding coversare applied in working cycles which follow. The economy of production issignificantly increased by the simultaneous production of the grindingsegments from a plastic material. An extremely high precision isobtained as a result of the design of the tool. Furthermore, it isadvantageous that, as a result of the foldability of the grindingsegments, they can be moved into a position in which a packing unit of aplurality of grinding rings has the smallest volume possible. Thus,either the packaging can be reduced for a certain number of grindingrings, or, in the case of packagings of the same size, the number ofgrinding rings or grinding segments is increased. It may also be thatthe transport costs can be lowered by approximately ⅓ in comparison tothe transport costs for the previously-known grinding segments becausethe grinding segments of the present disclosure can be stackedcorrespondingly more tightly as a result of the folding.

Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the mounting of thegrinding segments onto the carrier segments is simplified because thegrinding ring can be precisely positioned and the grinding segments canthen be placed in an inverted position onto the carrier segments by aslight application of force. Furthermore, the grinding segments may beused in every angular position within the angle in which they arefoldable, so that the profiles to be ground by the grinding ring canhave different cross-sections.

According to the present disclosure, the weakening lines extendtangentially to an inner circle extending concentrically with respect tothe axis of rotation of the grinding ring. As a result, undesirabledeformations of the individual grinding segments in the area of theweakening line are avoided.

For increasing the inherent stability, it is provided that the grindingring has an inner can extending concentrically with respect to its axisof rotation. The outside diameter of this inner can is less than that ofthe inner circle. The design of the grinding ring within the innercircle depends on the construction of the respective segmental grindingwheel. Thus, the grinding ring could also be provided with a profiling.The weakening lines of the grinding ring may be constructed as filmhinges. They can then already be inserted at the corresponding points inthe course of the production of the grinding ring.

The segmental grinding wheels can be securely fastened to the carriersegments. Each grinding segment includes at least two outward-orientedprojections on mutually facing lateral surfaces which extendtransversely to surfaces of the grinding segment carrying the grindingcovers. The at least two outward-oriented projections engage in pocketsof a tensioning device in a mounted condition of the grinding ring. Asan alternative, it is also conceivable that each grinding segmentincludes a holding nose on the side facing away from the weakening line,a tension lid reaching over the holding nose in the operative condition.It should also be mentioned that the grinding segments, by correspondingforming methods, include molded parts adapted to the cross-sections ofthe profile and of the applied grinding cover. The grinding segmentsform a row of grinding segments, in which case they may be arranged suchthat the grinding segments of two grinding segment rows engage in oneanother. The grinding segments of one row of a segmental grinding wheelmay also be called a set of grinding segments.

Other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing descriptions when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 4 are schematic views of a one-piece grinding ring having twogrinding segments arranged thereon in a foldable manner and showing fourdifferent positions of the grinding segments, according to the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The grinding ring 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, includes grindingsegments 11 in an outer area. Grinding segments 11 are connected with acenter part or area 12 via weakening lines 14 in the form of film orliving hinges. Grinding covers are provided to cover grinding segments11. This center area 12 is an inner circle and the weakening lines 14extend tangentially to this inner circle. In FIGS. 1-4, center area 12has a flat construction. Center area 12 may also have a can-shaped or ahub-shaped construction, and an outer circumference may extend at adistance to the weakening lines 14 or to the grinding segments 11. Anaxis of rotation of the grinding ring 10 is indicated by referencenumber 13. The grinding ring 10 includes an inner can 16 extendingconcentrically to the axis of rotation 13.

FIG. 3 shows, for example, a position of the grinding segments 11,arranged for packaging and/or transport in a flat position, in which aunit of grinding rings 10 could be combined as a packing unit.Furthermore, it is conceivable to design a tool such that the grindingrings 10 could also be removed in this form. However, grinding rings 10may also be produced in the position as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows the grinding segments 11 along the weakening lines 14 in aposition bent downward at an angle a of, for example, 90°, which is anoperative position of the grinding segments 11. FIG. 2 shows anintermediate position of a corresponding cross-sectional shape ofprofiles and an adapted shape and profile of the grinding segments 11,which intermediate position could also be used as an operative position.

Other profiles of the grinding segments 11 may be machined in which anenveloping angle amounts to 180°. That is because the grinding segments11 may be folded over by an angle into the range of maximally 180°.

FIG. 4 shows the grinding segments 11 folded about an angle of 180°, ascompared to FIG. 1. Other intermediate positions of grinding segments 11are conceivable. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, lateral, outward-orientedprojections are identified by reference number 15. In a mounted positionof the grinding ring 10, the projections 15 are disposed in pockets of atensioning device. As suggested in FIG. 3, the grinding segments 11 mayalso be folded by 90° in both directions.

The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated embodiments.Grinding segments 11 are mutually connected to form a one-piece grindingring 10, and the grinding segments 11 can be folded along definedweakening lines 14.

Although the present disclosure has been described and illustrated indetail, it is to be clearly understood that this is done by way ofillustration and example only and is not to be taken by way oflimitation. The scope of the present disclosure is to be limited only bythe terms of the appended claims.

1. A grinding ring having grinding covers for grinding profiled stripsor profiled edges, the grinding ring comprising: a row of carriersegments; grinding segments on each carrier segment, the grindingsegments being connected with one another to form a one-piece grindingring; and the individual grinding segments being foldable alongpredefined weakening lines.
 2. The grinding ring according to claim 1,wherein the weakening lines run tangentially with respect to an innercircle extending concentrically with respect to an axis of rotation ofthe grinding ring.
 3. The grinding ring according to claim 1, furtherincluding an inner can extending concentrically to an axis of rotationof the grinding ring.
 4. The grinding ring according to claim 1, whereinthe weakening lines of the grinding ring are constructed as livinghinges.
 5. The grinding ring according to claim 1, wherein mutuallyfacing lateral surfaces of each grinding segment, which mutually facinglateral surfaces extend transversely to grinding surfaces of thegrinding segments, include at least two outward-oriented projectionswhich engage in pockets of a tensioning device in a mounted condition ofthe grinding ring.
 6. The grinding ring according to claim 1, whereinthe grinding segments include holding noses on a side situated oppositethe weakening lines and surfaces of a tension lid reach over the holdingnoses.
 7. The grinding ring according to claim 1, further including aprofiling.